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Filename: RC4018.TXT [PAGE 307] ROSICRUCIAN CHRISTIANITY ASTROLOGY COURSE: ASTROLOGY LESSON NO. 24: Dear Friend: In commencing this course of instruction in the method of reading a horo- scope from the spiritual point of view, it is necessary to give some general advice regarding the attitude of mind which students must cultivate in order to achieve success; namely, Compassion. It is an excellent practice for young students to study their OWN figure and those of their nearest friends, because that gives them a good idea of how celestial aspects are the precursors of terrestrial events, with which they are already familiar. Thus they gain valuable knowledge and a confi- dence not to be obtained by mere book study, and all is well if they soon branch out and become interested in the horoscopes of OTHERS to such an ex- tent that they almost forget their own. Right at this point in their path, however, there is a death-trap and many, alas, all too many, fall by the wayside and allow personal interests to rule. They pore over their own figure every spare minute; They tabulate aspects daily; they cast a honorary figure for every move, even to the smallest affairs of life. Thus they prostitute the most sublime science ex- tant, and nip in the bud what might have become a wonderful factor in devel- oping soul power; namely, the faculty of SPIRITUAL delineation. I hope and pray that you may escape that dreadful quagmire. Always remember your prom- ise TO HELP OTHERS according to your ability. Another serious responsibility will confront you and require great dis- cretion when you see illness or trouble ahead of a client. Never under any circumstances tell him bluntly or impending trouble or ill health, for he will surely lose his stamina by brooding, and the blow will be twice as heavy owing to your indiscretion. You must first learn discrimination; to many people even a hint of trouble is disastrous although that class usually question the Astrologer very closely, and profess profound ability to pre- serve perfect equanimity, even in the face of impending death. Be careful as to what you tell them, for you will be held accountable. Neither should you mind if your ability is questioned when events come to pass which you have seen in a life and kept silent about rather than discourage a soul that is weak or heavy-laden. Once, jealous of my beloved science, I told a mother that if we could only get her sick daughter past a certain day, she would recover. The mother repeated my words to her daughter. She died on the day designated, and I have always felt responsible. On another occasion a lady asked: "Would you advise divorce?" I saw her husband's death was iminent, but kept [PAGE 308] her silent. I magnified her faults and his good points, and prevailed upon her to bear and forbear for a while longer. When a fatal accident severed the time, she had no self-reproach; she blessed me for my advice, though she might not have regarded by ability to predict very highly. In the one case I have the prediction that I might be able to say, "I withheld information and earned blessings. The lesson is obvious: USE 99 Per cent DISCRETION to 1 Per cent BLUNT TRUTH, and always ENCOUR- AGE. In the next lesson we shall commence reading a horoscope. That is a study of absorbing interest, but remember, do not love it for the knowledge or the power it will give you; love it for the good you can do with it, and your treasure will be great in heaven. May God bless your efforts. Yours in fellowship, Max Heindel [PAGE 309] ASTROLOGY LESSON NO. 25: Dear Friend: To read a horoscope correctly, it is essential to know whether material or spiritual advancement is intended for the soul during this embodiment, and tow hat extend one phase is expected to predominate. This is denoted by the progression of the angels. When the Midheaven moves faster, opportuni- ties for intellectual and spiritual endeavor present themselves and bring success, if grasped. When the Ascendant moves faster, material affairs will claim expression. Were this understood and acted upon, there would be fewer failures in life, for the right Opportunity knocks at every door. Satisfaction and suc- cess always result if we embrace it. If we miss our chance, there will be an undercurrent of regret despite any seeming success; the Soul feel the re- sulting lack. The greatest danger of mission our chance is by a preconceived, mistaken idea of what constitutes opportunity, and an astrologer ignorant of this in- ner teaching may be a dangerous guide. Suppose he be asked to indicate the life work of a young man with Mars elevated in Scorpio. In the light of common knowledge he can say that the young man will excel in surgery. pass- ing years may bring him fame and fortune; Apparent success may seem to jus- tify the astrologer beyond cavil. Yet, had he known that the young man's Ascendant progressed much faster than his Midheaven and stamped him as too materialistic to make a good doctor (for the first qualification of a good doctor is a heart too big for his body), he might have realized that the world had lost a good ironworker and become afflicted with a friend who rev- eled in the bloody work of surgery for scientific satisfaction and who did not waste a thought of pity on his hapless victims. [PAGE 310] Therefore it behooves the spiritual astrologer to first ascertain and relative progression of the angles, and make all delineations subsidiary to that cardinal point. To illustrate how the angles are progressed, take the test horoscope for Sept. 15, 1911, 9:20 p.m. Chicago. We will progress this for 45 years, as that will give a good guage. The rule is: The birthday represents the birth year, and each DAY after birth (in the ephemeris), is as one YEAR of life. Counting 45 days from Sept. 15th gives Oct. 30th. We use the S.T. on that day to find the houses, but proceed otherwise as taught on page 33 of Simplified Scientific Astrology. S.T. Greenwich on noon previous to (progressed) birth 14 30 00 Correction for West Long. 0 59 Interval from previous noon (Oct. 30) to progressed birth (true local time) 9 28 00 Correction for Interval 1 34 -------- 24 00 33 Deducting 24 hours gives S.T. of progressed birth 0 00 33 Nearest S.T. in Tables 0 0 0 Our Table of Houses for Lat. 42 gives the corresponding progressed Ascendant: -Cancer 19.43 Midheaven Aries 0 0 Subtract the positions at birth:-Gemini 8.13 13 ----- ---- Travel during 45 years 41.30 47.0 Thus we see that the Asc. and M.C. have kept fairly even pace. This is therefore a comfortable "middle of the road" life, in which the spirit does not strenuously strive with the recaciltrant flesh, though opportunities for slight spiritual advancement will be given. To show that you understand the principle here taught, please cast a horoscope for Sept. 12, 1911, 12:50 a.m. Seatlle. Progress the angles for 45 years and tell me what you think thereof. Yours in fellowship, Max Heindel [PAGE 311] ASTROLOGY LESSON NO. 26: Dear Friend: In the last letter you set up a horoscope and progressed the angles for 45 years. You then found that the M.C. had moved three degrees to every two traveled by the Asc. This shows that opportunities for soul growth will abound, irrespective of whether the person profits by them or not, and judg- ment of this figure should point out how the finer faculties may be culti- vated, put to maximum use, and made to yield abundant treasure in heaven. Had the Asc. moved more rapidly than the M.C. it would indicate that that soul requires a material life work during this embodiment. Hints to promote proper material pursuits would then be most helpful and indirectly produc- tive of soul growth. To justify this rule it is not required that the person whose M.C. is speedier than his Asc. become a great spiritual light. He may even commit a crime and languish in prison through years of sorrow and suffering; but whatever the circumstances, his experiences will produce great soul growth. The soul never blooms until watered abundantly with tears. As Goethe says: "Who never ate his bread in sorrow, Who never spend the midnight hours, Weeping, watching for the morrow, He knows ye not, ye heavenly powers." The rose does not yield its full fragrance till its petals have been crushed; the well of true sympathy springs only from a broken heart. All who really advance spiritually are men of sorrow and acquainted with grief. Paul mentions as the principal qualification of Christ Jesus that He had suffered as we suffer, hence is able to feel for all who are weak and heavy laden as no one could feel who had not thus suffered. What a pathos lies in the words of Faust! What an anguish of soul is re- vealed when he says: "Two souls, alas! are houses within my breast, And struggle there for undivided reign; One, to the earth with passionate desire, And closely clinging organs still adheres; Above the mists the other doth aspire With sacred ardor unto purer spheres." Also, in our horoscope is foreshown a bitter war between the higher nature and lower appetites. Saturn in elevation, sextile Neptune, on the Asc., trine Sun & Uranus, will give such wonderful perception in mystic matters that it will isolate this soul from his fellow man because his ideas [PAGE 312] will be beyond their comprehension. That will be a trial and will cause regret. Saturn in Taurus, the sign which rules the tongue, gives a thoughtful, sometimes stubborn disposition. He will be slow of speech and because Saturn is in the 11th house it tends to limit friendships. Mars in Gemini gives a keen, active and alert mentality, but in the 11th house tends to friction in friendship through bluntness of speech. Though Saturn in Taurus denies vocal expression, Sun, Venus, and Mercury in Virgo will give unusual facility for writing in a most beautiful manner. Misunderstood and criticized, denied the companionship of others, he will be driven back upon his own devices for enjoyment. He may become a glutton, for the Moon, ruler of the Asc., is in Taurus, which has dominion over the palate, and serious illness would follow gastronomic excess. The astrologer sees these tendencies, but is, of course, too tactful to tell. He will not name disease, but rather seek to prescribe a preventive or a remedy. Lack of time precludes the reading of lengthy letters, but write me IN A FEW WORDS what advice you would give the parents of this body. Please also progress the angles for the 20th, 30th, and 40th years, and tell me if his opportunities will be the best from childhood to 20, from 20 to 30, or from 30 to 40. Yours in fellowship, Max Heindel [PAGE 313] ASTROLOGY LESSON NO. 27: Dear Friend: By progressing the angles of our horoscope for 20, 30, and 40 years, we found that the M.C. did not gain over the Asc. more than one degree in three during any epoch. Thus opportunities for spiritual growth will be about the same in all divisions of life; but, mark this: they will be more likely to bring results when the progressed Midheaven aspects a radical planet. The nature and character of the experience will depend upon the nature of the planet aspected, the character of the aspect (sextile, square, or trine), and the house where the aspected planet is located. The same rule would ap- ply in regard to the influence of the Ascendant upon material affairs. Its aspects by progression promote changes which affect our physical existence. The effects of its aspects are not invalidated even though the tendency of the life is towards the spiritual; and in a life where the speed of the As- cendant foreshadows the preponderance of material activities, an spiritual to the progressed Midheaven may wake the slumbering soul and a beginning of spiritual activity may be inaugurated. Right here is one of the most important and fruitful opportunities for service which the spiritual astrologer can find, and although this whole subject of "progression" should FOLLOW instruction on reading of the natal figure instead of preceding it, I feel that knowledge of the effect of pro- gression of the Ascendant and Midheaven is of such vast practical value that I have decided to violate that precendent and stay with this subject till it has been made as clear as I can make it. Then you will be able to help oth- ers at crises in their lives which may have been unsuspected even by those most anxious to aid. Have you ever met a mother anxiously seeking advice concerning a wayward girl or a drunken son? Would they mend? How could she best help them? Or was it a wife with a flock of little ones, suffering through the neglect husband or father? Alas! The world is full of such cases, and any spiritu- ally minded astrologer actuated by compassion for all concerned, must often have sorrowed when he searched vainly for an aspect of the planets that would give a ray of hope. Had he known the elevating potency of aspects to the radical and from the progressed Midheaven, had he known how these as- pects produce opportunities to retrieve mistakes and make a new start in life, he might have pointed out the auspicious time when judicious persua- sion would have been the most effective in turning the wayward child or weaning the father from the curse of drink; a time when they would have been more amenable to reason than usual. Opportunities must be caught on the wing or they are lost, and lack of astrological knowledge has wrecked many a life. Therefore, students are advised to always look carefully for aspects of the progressed Midheaven to radical planets, or of progressed planets to the [PAGE 314] radical Midheaven. Aspects of Sun, Jupiter, and Venus to the Midheaven are of course most powerful, but good aspects of Saturn sometimes accomplish identical results by appeal to the delinquent's manhood and self-respect. Look at the horoscope we are judging: The Midheaven is Aries 1. When it has progressed to Aries 23, it will be square to Neptune, which is in 23 of Cancer. Turn to our Table of Houses and count the liens from Aries 1 to Ar- ies 23. Each line counts as approximately one year of life. Then progress the angles by the method used in Lesson No. 2 for the same number of years as there are lines between Aries 1 and Aries 23. If the progressed Midheaven is Aries 23, the number of years used will be the age when the square to Neptune culminates. If the progressed Midheaven is more or less than Aries 23, Then please tell be the boy's age when this square culminates and what you think will result. Yours in fellowship, Max Heindel Remember to progress the Midheaven as taught in previous lessons. [PAGE 315] ASTROLOGY LESSON NO. 28: I have waited before writing till a representative of answers to No. 4 have been received, in order to find out how students would solve that prob- lem, as knowledge of their difficulties would aid me in explaining and giv- ing them just the needed information. All have solved the mathematical part; a large majority of those who have answered to date have also made creditable attempts to outline the effect of the aspect, and a few have done excellent work; but a few others have been peevish, said they came to learn and should not be expected to judge. As similar methods will be persuaded right along, it may be well to explain that the plan of teaching which con- tinually feeds the student's mind with facts pertaining to a certain study without attempting to draw from him MORE than given is apt to render the mind sluggish instead of sharp. A system of teaching, to be adequate, must stimulate individual ideas by questions somewhat in advance of the pupil's knowledge. It is not easy for the pupil; nothing worth while comes without struggle, but by trying to achieve or attain we develop latent powers, and each new problem solved makes work on the next one lighter. Therefore I shall continue to ask such questions, and sometimes I may take the liberty of making a mistake in the hope of being caught by the whole class. Now, about our question, "What is the effect of the progressed Midheaven square Neptune?" We will consider this thoroughly, as, once understood, the method of solution may be applied to the judgment of all configurations. The effect is compound and consists of: (1) A GENERAL EFFECT, applicable to all horoscopes without regard to whether Neptune is placed in the 7th or 12th house. (2) A more specific effect based also upon HOUSE POSITION, and different from the present case, of course, when the 7th house holds the planet. (3) A further distinction on account of SIGN and other aspects of the planet. This would be altogether individual. (4) It is a fact that we learn more by adversity than by prosper- ity, that when an affliction is past and time has healed our bruises and mellowed recollections, we profit by the lessons contained in painful expe- riences; we bless the rod that smote us. Therefore the square and other so-called evil aspects produce more soul growth than good configurations; ecstasy of joy may fill out hearts under the latter; we may seem to soar to the very throne of heaven, and lave in an ocean of celestial delight; but when the stirring influence has left, when we wake to the cold, matter-of-fact conditions of the world, how dull and drear is the contrast, [PAGE 316] how we shrink from the contact. Evil aspects, on the other hand, may bow down our soul to the very depths of hell; a little while it may seem as if there were no hope, no succor; but when the scale has swung and we behold the silver lining of the cloud, the pain that seared our soul with an indel- ible mark will bring out by contrast the beauties of God's plan and spur on to greater efforts in His service. We may therefore conclude a painful experience is in store for the boy when the square culminates, but it contains a needed lesson, the nature of which we shall endeavor to unravel. Please tell me whether you think the effect of a planet in the 12th house is different when near the Asc. from its influence when located near the 12th cusp. Yours in fellowship, Max Heindel [PAGE 317] ASTROLOGY LESSON NO. 29: Dear Friend: When a planet is located in the upper part of the 12th house, it influ- ence is confined entirely to that department of life, but when close to the Ascendant, it acquired dominion also over the physical body, for the Ascen- dant is the degree which held the moon at conception and serves as an avenue of ingress for the life forces until the severance of the unbilical cord. The planets in aspect to that degree during the 9 months immediately preced- ing birth each had a share in forming the organic constitution of the child. This is particularly true of the planets which formed a conjunction with the Ascendant during the pre-natal period. After birth, health is influenced by aspects to the Ascendant and conditions of 6th house; but the organic con- stitution which was determined by the prenatal aspects mentioned above is almost unchangeable for these aspects are the ripe vintage of our past which must be drunk to the dregs no matter how we squirm, though proper care, par- ticularly if applied in childhood, may considerably decrease suffering from that source. Neptune really signifies what we may call "the gods," commencing with the supernormal beings we know as Elder Brothers, and compassing the innumerable hosts of spiritual entities, good, bad, and indifferent, which influence our evolution. Its position and aspects denote our relation to them, if any; malefic aspects attract agencies of a nature inimical to our welfare, benefic configurations draw upon the good forces. Thus, if Neptune is placed in the 10th house, trine to the Ascendant, the person involved will have the opportunity to become a leader or prominent in a movement along mystical lines as denoted by the exalted position of Neptune. His body will be ca- pable of receiving the finer vibrations and coming into touch with the spi- ritual world, as denoted by the trine of the Ascendant. On the other hand, when Neptune is placed in the 12th house, whose nature is passive and pro- ductive of suffering, it indicates that at some time, perhaps under a square from the Midheaven such as we are considering, the evil forces among whom are spirit-controls will be drawn to that person and endeavor to obtain possession of the body. The conjunction of Neptune with the Ascendant will make the body sensitive and usable for spiritual purposes as well as the trine. Given the opportunity afforded by the first aspect mentioned, the man may become a pupil of a Mystery School and a factor for great good in the uplift of mankind; placed under the affliction of the second aspect, he may become a helpless tool of spirit-controls, an irresponsible medium. But there is one factor which is never shown in the horoscope, and that is the will of the man. He is bound at some time in life to meet with the experiences denoted by his horoscope, and the opportunities there [PAGE 318] indicated will be placed before him by one in orderly succession, as the clock of destiny marks the appropriate time, but how he, the free and inde- pendent spirit, meets those fated experiences, no one can determine before- hand. The man in whose horoscope the first mentioned benefic configuration occurs may not be sufficiently awake to the great opportunity before him to catch it on the wing, it may have flown before he realizes that it was there. Yes, he may even never become aware of the fact. On the other hand, the person in whose life the square indicates the assault by spiritual forces mentioned, may develop his spiritual muscle by resisting the on- slaught and become a victor instead of being vanquished. Forewarned is forearmed; if the parents of the boy whose horoscope we are considering understand the gravity of the situation and foster the spirit of indepen- dence in him from childhood up, they may lay up great treasure in heaven by saving him from the deplorable fate of mediumship. What do you think would have been the effect if Neptune had been in the 7th house. Squared by Progressed Midheaven? Yours in fellowship, Max Heindel [PAGE 319] ASTROLOGY LESSON NO. 30: Dear Friend: Let me reiterate that though we are now considering the facts of a cer- tain planet, Neptune, the method of judgment is identical for the other planets, and that when we know now to combine the effects of aspect, house, and intrinsic nature of one planet, we may readily apply the same system of combination to the other planets. To convey in one word all that is in- cluded in the sphere of influence of a planet is difficult; but if you will meditate upon the keywords given in this lesson, you will receive more il- lumination concerning the inherent nature of planetary vibrations that you can ever obtain by reading of other people's ideas, for the divine spark which is YOU, by this earnest striving after spiritual understanding draws directly from the fountainhead of information, namely, the planetary Spirit of the particular heavenly body upon whose nature you are meditating. In order to impress upon the student's mind how perfectly reasonable this idea is and to give a better understanding of the method whereby this inner illumination may be obtained, let us illustrate: In a machinery hall giant wheel are revolving; the friction of the belts, humming of electric dynamos, etc., blend in a noise which is deafening and confusing to the inexperi- enced; a chaos of sound. But to the trained ear of the engineer there is no chaos; he hears a variety of well ordered sounds, each bringing to him in- telligence regarding the condition and work of the particular machine whence it emanates. Each variation from the standard sound has its meaning, which the trained man comprehends as readily as if the engine were endowed with speech. Study of the internal construction of each machine has given him his knowledge and the ability to act quickly in emergencies to avert immi- nent disaster before the uninitiated would have realized that anything un- usual was taking place. Similarly, we are living in a world flooded with sound; the Harmony of the Spheres is about our ears through we hear it not, and each vibration carries with it certain intelligence. If our ears are deaf we are the los- ers, as are the blind who miss the beauty of the flower, the glory of the sunset. But if we train ourselves to understand the heavenly symphony re- corded upon the page of the horoscope, we shall know things that must ever remain secret from the unlearned, and thus we may become co-workers with God in a mast intimate matter. After years of close study and meditation I use the following keywords for the intrinsic nature of the planets: SUN: LIFE MERCURY: REASON MARS: DYNAMIC ENERGY MOON: FECUNDATION VENUS: ATTRACTION NEPTUNE: DIVINITY URANUS: ALTRUISM SATURN: OBSTRUCTION JUPITER: IDEATION If you meditate on each planet by itself or with its opposite or with [PAGE 320] its affinities for a few days or weeks at the time you devote to this study, you will gain a wonderful insight into their natures and effects; for in- stance: The Sun is LIFE absolute, manifest or unmanifest; but Mars represents the DYNAMIC ENERGY which is manifestation of life. This, Saturn seeks to OBSTRUCT, and when he succeeds death ensures; the Sun gives the germ of LIFE, the Moon furthers FECUNDATION, and thus a body is produced; Jupiter gives the germinal IDEA, Mercury fecundates the mind so that ideas take definite form as THOUGHT, and the DYNAMIC ENERGY of Mars brings them into manifestation so that thoughts become things. What is the connection between Venus and Uranus? Yours in fellowship, Max Heindel [PAGE 321] ASTROLOGY LESSON NO. 31: Dear Friend: "Love" is a much hackneyed word, and the emotion thus miscalled is usu- ally so tainted with passion and desire that it is Martian rather than Venusian in character. Coalition suggests a most intimate union, a blending of the very souls of two or more people who compose a family; but altruism, the keyword of Uranus, hints at such an all-embracing love as our Sav- ior felt when He wept over Jerusalem and applied that wonderful simile of the hen which fathers its brood under its wings. Thus Uranus is the octave of Venus, and anyone ready to enter the Path of Preparation which leads to the Way of Initiation must gradually learn to outgrow the Venus love which makes the immediate family all in all and begin to culti- vate the all-embracing Uranus altruism. The aspects of Mercury and Neptune to Uranus bring the tests which further our development, if passed, and delay us when we fail. The goal is high, and those who aim high often fall low. When we essay to transcend the Venus love and cultivate the Uranus altruism we are in great danger, and the most promising lives are sometimes wrecked by the pernicious theory of soul mates, clandestine love affairs, and perversion of the creative function. In a horoscope such as we are considering, where the progressed MC squares, Neptune in the 12th house, Neptune at the same time opposing Uranus on the cusp of the 7th, we have one of the most dangerous combinations, for the aspect to Neptune tends to attract spirit controls. These despi- cable entities have a knack of beguiling their unsuspecting victims, by plausible platitudes, into the most adominable practices, as indicated by the aspects of Uranus and Neptune. The double square to the MC, which rules honor and social standing, would indicate that a public scandal is inevit- able-IF- Yes, thank God there is always that "if," for in the final analysis there is the man with this Godlike faculty of reason to be reckoned with. Experi- ence has taught us the unwisdom of depending upon the appearance of an ap- plicant for a position of trust; we demand credentials as to character and antecedents. Ought we not to be much more careful with "spirit voices" from the Invisible? Paul exhorted his followers to "try the spirits." They are known by their fruits. Love, Joy, Peace, Forbearance, Kindness, Goodness, Fidelity, Meekness and Self-Control are mentioned as "fruits of the godly spirit." Paul exhorts his followers particularly not to use their liberty for "an occasion of the flesh," licentiousness being mentioned as prime "fruit of the flesh." Paul was speaking to people upon the Path of Preparation and allow who have qualified to receive these lessons are there also, though at varying [PAGE 322] stages. They feel the Uranian vibrations urging them to love beyond the con- fines of the family circle. May God bless their efforts. But remember this: Altruism does not require return of the love bestowed upon others; it has absolutely no concern with sex; it will not LESSEN the love for our family, but they, being nearest to us, will feel the increase of our love to a greater degree than those farther away. Unless our love brings forth such fruits, it is not Uranian, nor even Venusian; it will not further us upon the Path of Attainment. When Neptune is on the Asc. in Pisces or the 12th house, spirit voices are the tempters; in the 9th house, one's own mind; in the 7th, an associate, etc. "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the Temple." What do you think is the connection between Mercury and Neptune? Yours in fellowship, Max Heindel [PAGE 323] ASTROLOGY LESSON NO. 32: Dear Friend: Mercury is usually associated with reason and intelligence; to him is ascribed rule over the nervous system, which is the medium of transmission between the embodied spirit and the world without. Thus, as Neptune signifies the subhuman and superhuman intelligences who live and move in the spiritual realms of the universe, but who work with and upon us, so Mercury indicates the human intelligence focused upon the terrestrial, physical world where we live from birth to death. Therefore it may be said that Neptune is the octave of Mercury, but there is a deeper sense than this: Reference to a textbook of anatomy or physiology will show that length- wise fissures in the spinal cord divide it into three parts which together enclose a hollow tube. Each of these columns is ruled by one of the Hierar- chies in closest touch with us; the lunar, martial, and mercurial; one or another predominating according to the stage of evolution of the individual. In the spinal canal the rays of Neptune kindle the spiritual fire whereby the human spirit is enabled to pierce the veil of flesh and contact the worlds beyond. The resulting vision is colored according to the column of the cord most actively excited. In the childhood days of mankind the creative force which is now turned outwards to build ships, houses, railways, telephones, etc., was used in- wardly to build the organs of the body, and as the surrounding physical world is photographed upon the table of a camera obscure, so the spiritual world was reflected in the spinal canal. There man first beheld the lunar God, Jehovah, whose angels were then his tutors. Later, angels who had fallen behind the standard of their compeers and whose evolutionary require- ments were therefore different, forced entrance to the spinal cord of man. The spiritual inner vision of mankind faded when "their eyes were opened and they say that they were naked"; then they lost touch with the higher self, they saw only the person, and the docile creature of Jehovah was soon trans- formed to a savage and a brute under the impulses of the Lucifer spirits, the Hierarchy of Mars. But by their promptings man learned to conquer mate- rial obstacles, to build outwardly and become architect of the world. To counteract the unmitigated selfishness bred by the Martian angels and to make mankind humane, our Elder Brothers from Mercury, human like our- selves, whose which state of evolution required the high vibration generated and prevailing in close proximity to the sun, were required to invest the spinal cord of mankind also, and through their labors civilization has taken on a different form. Mankind is again beginning to look inward, and when [PAGE 324] the mercurial ray meets the ray of Neptune in the spinal canal, man finds again his higher self: the Christ is born within. Thus you see the connection between the Moon, Mercury, and Neptune. Those who come in touch with Neptune through the Moon become irresponsible mediums, victims of obsession, etc., but where Mercury is the gate, reason and understanding guide the aspiring spirit. An afflicted Mercury may sometimes tempt seekers to enter by the wrong door, and mental trouble may result. If aware of the danger, however, continual care and per- sistence usually unlock the door of the Temple, for the good forces are in ascendancy now and grow stronger as time passes. In the horoscope we are considering, which of the two gates do you think the boy is likely to choose? The Moon or Mercury. Why? Yours in fellowship, Max Heindel [PAGE 325] ASTROLOGY LESSON NO. 33: Dear Friend: In the majority of horoscopes Saturn appears as afflicted, and through him come most of our heartaches. His position in Taurus and the house of friends is unfortunate in the respects indicated in Letter No. 26, but his elevation and powerfully good aspect to the Sun, Venus, and Uranus bring out the best qualities of this planet. Mercury is in Virgo, the sign of its exaltation, in conjunction with the Sun, and SEPARATING from a trine of Saturn. When a planet having a cer- tain orbital velocity comes into aspect with another heavenly body that is slower and more ponderous, the swifter planet is said to "apply" to the trine, square, or other aspect as the case may be, from the time it comes within "orb" until the aspect is exact. Then it begins to "separate" and though it is in aspect while within the orb of six degrees or a little me, its influence is not nearly so strong as white it is applying. Take as an illustration the relation of Saturn and Mercury in the present horo- scope. Saturn is in Taurus 20:9, and Mercury in Virgo 13:13, retrograde. As Mercury travels around the Sun in 88 days, and Saturn requires more than 29 years to complete its circle, it is obvious that Mercury makes and breaks every aspect with Saturn (and indeed with all the other planets except the Moon), repeatedly. Mercury is getting nearly beyond orb of a trine to Saturn in this horoscope. It is "separating" due to its retrograde motion, but never- theless its force will be noticeable in the boy's make-up. It will give persistence and balance to the mind which may save him from the affliction of Neptune. Mercury also goes BEFORE the Sun. The revolution revolution of the earth upon its axis makes the planets seem to rise and set, and a planet in Virgo 13 (as Mercury) naturally rises before another in Virgo 18 (as the Sun). In that position Mercury, the mystic "lightbearer" of the Gods, goes ahead of the spirit, signified by the Sun, with the lamp of reason and intelligence. This is a position much to be preferred to that where the Sun rises first and Mercury FOLLOWS, for there the mystic light is behind the spirit and it requires a greater struggle to attain illumination than where Mercury precedes. The sextile of Mercury to Jupiter, the planet of "benevolence," further attests the inherent nobility of mind and strengthens the influence of Mercury in the horoscope. The Moon is in the highest elevation and in Taurus, the sign of its exaltation, but it is applying to an opposition of Jupiter. Its influence in the horoscope is therefore less than that of Mercury; hence there is every reason to expect that this boy will escape the snares of mediumship and some day knock at the door of the Temple. I would like to make sure that you understand the principle of "applica- tion" and "separation" of planets as explained; also about Mercury pre- ceding and following the Sun. Please answer this: Is Saturn applying to a trine to Uranus or is he separating, in our horoscope? When the Sun is in Cancer 28 and Mercury is in Leo 25, does Mercury rise before or after the Sun? Yours in fellowship, Max Heindel [PAGE 326] ASTROLOGY LESSON NO. 34: Dear Friend: For some time I have suspected that many students receiving the Senior Lessons know little of aspects, Standard Time, retrogradation, and kindred matters. Those who are well versed in these subjects are not caught in the trap which has snared so many Senior students attempting to answer Senior Lesson No. 10. I would advise those not well grounded in the beginnings of science to review the lessons of the Junior Course. If you start system- atically from the beginning, you will lay a sure foundation, and will not overlook the important points involved in retrogradation of planets. Saturn and Uranus are retrograde and a curious case results. To make the matter clear I refer to Junior Lesson No. 8. When you have studied retro- gradation there, you will see by examination of the positions given in the ephermeris for the 12th, 13th, and 14th of September that both Saturn and Uranus are retrograding at the rate of one minute per day; thus they maintain the same distance from each other, and therefore they are neither applying nor separating. As I believe homeopathic doses are best for beginners, I did not explain to the Junior Class that because of retrogradation a slow-moving planet may apply to one which is more swift. Thus in the present case, had Saturn been direct and Uranus retrograde both would have been applying. When that is the case their rays are most powerfully focused, and the mind effect is greatest. It is well worth while to keep these points in mind, and to be sure, when inserting the planets in a horoscope, to designate with appropri- ate marks those that are retrograde, for when not thus marked, astrologers assume that all are direct, and a reading based on such a misconception must necessarily be misleading. In the present case, for instance, the UNIFORM retrogradation of BOTH planets weakens their influence for good, and increases so-called "evil" tendencies. Saturn in the 11th house obstructs the boy's hopes and wishes; his friends fail him, and the retrogradation of Uranus makes it difficult for him to guard against these mishaps, although the trine between Saturn and Uranus will mitigate this to a considerable extent. Were both Saturn and Uranus direct, Saturn would apply to the trine of Uranus, and the intuitive faculty of the latter planet would impart more wisdom and forestall to a greater degree the saturnine tendencies. During a period in any horoscope when Saturn is direct and meets a retrograde Uranus by progression IN A GOOD ASPECT they bring out the very highest of their re- spective virtues potential in the native; but if they meet thus in an evil configuration, they inevitably force any hidden evil to the surface, for re- member, the planets inaugurate neither good not ill, they only stir into activity tendencies which are latent within. You will notice that during boyhood Mercury is R, but later becomes direct, and about nineteen years after birth it forms a trine with Saturn. Tell me what will be the result, but briefly, please, for as an as- trologer you should cultivate conciseness. Too many words are confusing to those for whom you read. Yours in fellowship, Max Heindel [PAGE 327] ASTROLOGY LESSON NO. 35: Dear Friend: Having considered the spiritual phase of our horoscope and the rocks to be avoided, let us see what weak points in the physical casement require care that health may be preserved. Saturn is the planet of obstruction, no matter how he may be aspected. The point where his ray falls is always weak, susceptible in re- spect to cold, and consequently liable to contraction. In our horoscope, Saturn is placed in a fixed sign, Taurus; his elevation gives him great power, and we may judge that the boy will be liable to colds, also that the throat will at times seem to contract and produce a sense of strangulation. As a planet exercises a subsidiary effect in the opposite sign from that in which it is placed, we may judge that Jupiter in Scorpio will also exert an influence in the throat. The general nature of this planet tends to produce portliness wherever it has dominion, and we may look for enlarge- ment of the tonsils from this configuration. You know the sympathetic connection between the organs of sex and speech, how the boy's voice changes at puberty, and you will readily realize what is likely to happen to this boy. At that age the throat is naturally sensi- tive, and when Jupiter expands the tonsils and Saturn contracts the orifice of the throat, a painful condition will probably result. With- out the knowledge of Astrology the majority cannot judge the passing nature of this condition, and those who are ignorant of occult danger if removing the tonsils usually proceed to have the operation performed. Puberty occurs about the time when the Moon passes in opposition to its natal place. In this horoscope there are 16 degrees between the radical Moon and Saturn. The usual motion of the Moon is about one degree per month. During the 16 months while she passes in opposition to her radical place, the conjucntion to Jupiter, and the opposition to Saturn the above mentioned condition of the throat will be worse. Once the critical period is past, relief will come naturally without aid from the knife. Regarding the effect of removing tonsils: these are ruled by Taurus, one of the signs of Venus. There is great sympathy between signs ruled by the same planet. Libra, the other Venus sign, rules the kidneys. Removal of tonsils from the Taurus region affects secretion of urine in the Libra region. Therefore when we remove the tonsils from a child we create a tendency to gout and rheumatism in later years. This is an important point of great value to parents and astro-health ad- justers which we hope will save the coming generation much suffering. Yours in fellowship, Max Heindel Continued with file "RC4019.TXT" End of File

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